Sharp County record., 1887-01-06
1H0LY SMOKE"
pinkertons Have Been "on"
Almost From the Start,
peen shadowing the Frisco Ex'
Robbers Until They Had Them
.saa 70 Rights and Then scoopea
Them-The True Taie'

I'M A. and RODerG lhhOi wa -
nited Press reporter the true STORY
search for and capture OF those en-
inthe robbery of the Adams Ex,
! messenger on train of the st. Louis
Mancisco railroad on October 20,
! oediately after the robbery the
,rton agency of this city received d
tch from the superintendent of the
"a Fxpress in st. Louis, requesting
tives to come Immediately to that
n take charge : ri the Investigation
he case. Rooert Pinkerton was de,-
[ for the purpose, and, with force Oh
'+ives left for st. Louis. Their tlrst
was TO secure a list Of all employees
express company who had been
,rped during the year, ana 10
ain their whereabouts. One OF these
,rged employees named W. w. HaignO
suspected of being connected WIN
,bberv. and he was carefully traceu
He had been discharged on suspicion
wing taken valuables from express
ges. Haight was found to nave
n Chicago until October q, when he
,tensibly for Florida, and day or
ter his wife had received consider
um Of money from him in a letter
# the time Haight was in Chicago
/ driven a wagon for Fred Wlttrock,
| and wood dealer on Lake street,
had also been driver for Tom
er. whose wife kept a laundry on
Lake street. In making inquiries
Haight in Chicago it was learned
yittrock was absent from his place
,iness, having gone with Tom Weav-
was stated at his place of business,
KANSAS on a hunting excursion, car
two valises, shotgun and an army
II. The dete ectives were started 10
lat Wittrock's description exactly
red that furnished by Fotherlng-
the express messenger, OF Jim
lings.n the man who had committed
robbery. They obtained some
ie bills which Wittrock had
red his customers for coal and
furnished, and these were taken to
uis and compared by an expert With
i'm Cummings" letters which hac
,ent to the st. Louis Globe-Dcmocrdt,
was decided that the man who had
IN the letters was the same one who
ritten the coal bills. This matter be-
cided, the detectives began a hunt
'ittrock They traced him up the
uri River on the alleged hunting
sion, and also discovered he had,
another man, occupied rooms
house of Mrs. Berry, a respectable
IF St. Louis, for more than week.
searching the room in Mrs Berry's
the men had occupied, c. o. d. seal
,und stamped Pacific Express Com.
St. Charles, Mo-" and two scraps OF
oels. which were recognized as part
label used by the Express company
october 25, the day Of the robbery,
,ck, who went by the name of Ed
ms, had left Mrs. Berry's house,
9 he was going to Kansas City The
man had left a day or two before.
ar Cook, formerly Of Leavenwortn,
I this time in Kansas City. He was
m friend of the Wittrock family,
vas very flush Of money, claiming to
IRWIN large sum in lottery. He
arefully shadowed, and was found
he man who mailed the letters to
{. Louis Globe Democrat signed Jim
lings.n
ght, who was in Nashville, was also
wed. He had gone into the roofing
sss and was doing well. During all
me the whereabouts of Wittrock
not be learned. His residence in
ity on Lincoln street was carefully
led, and last Tuesday night man
cen to enter, who was believed to be
ock. The house was closely guarded
ays and nights, but Wittrock did not
Friday, Tom Weaver entered the
and remained some time Towards
Wittrock's broth er-in-laW Kinney,
out Of the house, and after looking
lily around, made signal as if to
WittrOck the coast was clear. A
linutcs later a large man came out Of
.ouse and walked quickly toward
ON Street. He was joined by Kinney,
le pair were followed by the de-
es, who were satisfied that the large
Tas the long -sought-f or Wittrock. The
ives succeeded by some maneuvermg
ping Wittrocb and Kinney in sight
ut themselves being suspected OF
W. The thieves having reached
ION Street, entered a dago saloon at
rner of Lincoln street. The three
ives consulted and agreed to make
rest in the saloon. AS they were
g, Kinney cam out and went back
'ds the house on Lincoln street. The
lives lodged back till he was out of
when they entered the saloon,
ock was in the center Of
saloon talking to a man
vas at once recognized as the myste-
shadow. Wittrock turned suspi-
ly as the detective entered, and
I'd for the door. Pinkerton was at
gar stand, and as Wittrock passed he
ed him. The thief ran his hands
lis pockets, but before he could act
| the operatives had a pistol at his
twith an order to ''up hands,
re was some scuffie, which shortly
in both Wittrock and his shadow
ironed together at the bar In the
RS pocket were found two 44-calibre
When asked what he was arrested
the detective replied to Wittrock;
burglary on West Madison street."
supon the thief looked relieved. He
Pm a business man, my name is Fred
ock, and Irun a coal yard on Lake
~ He had red pocket-boOk with
'e was asked the name of the mar
pi" left him, and answered at
W ne is Kinney and he will
A Is 'e';;y waited until Kinney
back "'n he, too, after a scuf1lo,
'oned to the other two. The shadow
dto be a harmless fellow named
lam, who had no idea of the work hn